Abstract: Objective To study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)  in nonHodgkin′s lymphoma (NHL) and its correlation with chemotherapy effect and prognosis, further to study the possibility that VEGF can be as the biomarker of prognosis and efficacy prediction for NHL. MethodsThe levels of VEGF in 60 NHL patients were detected by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay before and after treatment. The relationships between the levels of VEGF and effects and overall survival were observed. The VEGF levels of 20 healthy person as control group were detected. ResultsThe average level of VEGF in NHL patients was (338.64±259.31) pg/ml, which was significantly higher than that of normal control (72.57±26.16) pg/ml (t=7.829, P=0.000). Serum VEGF level in NHL patients was relative to the international prognostic index (IPI) and extracapsular extension (t=-3.747, P=0.002; t=-3.000, P=0.005). There was no correlation with age, sex, stage and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS). After treatment the VEGF level was significantly lower in the patients who achieved partial and complete remission (PR and CR) (t=2.729, P=0.010). There was no significant correlation between VEGF level and survival time (t=-0.563, P=0.577). ConclusionThe serum VEGF level of initial treatment patient with nonHodgkin′s lymphoma is higher than normal control, especially relates with the IPI and the number of extranodal extension. The changes of serum VEGF level associate with chemotherapeutic effect, but have no obvious correlation with survival time.

Key words: Lymphoma, nonHodgkin, Vascular endothelial growth factors